In the spring of 1973,
several members of the graduating class walked across the stage sans gowns, in shirts and ties. At first glance, this may have appeared to be a bit of the activism of the time spilling over onto a formal ceremony. In a way it was-the students were not protesting the ills of the world, but rather, making an effort to improve it. Those grads walking across the stage in shirtsleeves donated the money which would have gone to pay for their robes to make a lasting gift to Union.
The Class of 1973 funded the creation of a reading room in the old Schaffer Library in memory of two deceased classmates, Edward Corbett and Kelvin Cook. The sign commemorating this gift still hangs in the Memorial Alcove of the Schaffer Library. Together, the class broke the existing records for both participation and money raised by a senior class – 74 students donated $2,045, a substantial amount of money at the time.
This spring, the Class of 1973 is carrying on that legacy of giving. In honor of their 30th ReUnion, the class has committed to raising $125,000 to furnish and name the library in Abbe Hall, the new Alumni House. The library will house a complete set of Union face books and yearbooks, and will be available for the use and enjoyment of alumni and visitors to the campus. The Alumni House will also feature a living room, kitchen, formal dining room, and several meeting spaces. Additionally, the building will house offices for College Relations, the department which directly serves alumni needs. Abbe Hall, formerly the Parker Rice Mansion, is a stately building, complete with full carriage house, located directly outside the College's gates on Union Avenue. Abbe Hall will be opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony at ReUnion this spring.
The Class of 1973 was the first to endow a room in the new Alumni Center. George Bain, chair of the Library Project, is working with a committee of 14 classmates to raise both money and participation from the class. Bain, a veteran of fundraising projects for his preparatory school, Phillips Exeter Academy, volunteered to lead the project as a way to engage more alumni in the stewardship of the College.
The class's involvement began when George approached the College, asking how he could make a difference for his class and the College. When administrators described the new alumni facilities and the endowment needs involved in providing the space, George immediately saw a historic tie-in for the class in endowing the Library. Many other members of the class agreed, and have stepped forward as volunteers and donors to make the project a success. To date, members of the class have given gifts and commitments as large as $10,000 in support of the project. As of Dec. 31, the committee had raised approximately two-thirds of the funds needed to bring the project to completion.
Paying tribute to the culture of the early 1970s, the project giving levels have been given names from popular songs from 30 years ago. Some of the gift clubs include the “Truckin” level, the “Heart of Gold” level, the “Black Magic Woman” level and the ever-popular “Crocodile Rock” level.
When asked why he offered to lead the program, Bain said “Teaching people to give back to the institutions which have formed them is an important and ongoing process. As graduates of a fine and old college, we have an obligation to make it even stronger for future generations of Union men and women. Starting with students on campus, every graduate should be educated to leave the school better and stronger than they found it. Efforts like the 1973 Library Project help to deliver that message-that each graduate should be giving back through time, energy, expertise and money as best they can.”
For more information on the Class of '73 Library project, please contact Arianne Gates at 1-800-843-4365, ext. 6142.